The invention relates to a continuous fibrous tape comprising a substantially planar sheet of natural fibres of length Li. The sheet has a longitudinal dimension L and a transverse dimension w. The sheet comprises planar units positioned in n longitudinal lines. The planar units of adjoining longitudinal lines are misaligned by a misalignment distance Lv, with Lv being at least 3 w/n. Furthermore if the misalignment distance Lv between planar units of a first longitudinal line and the planar units of a second longitudinal line is less than 3 w/n, then there are at least two longitudinal lines positioned between the first longitudinal line and the second longitudinal line. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a continuous fibrous tape and to the use of such a continuous fibrous tape to manufacture a composite article.

A first composition is disclosed that includes a fire-resistant thermoplastic resin. The fire-resistant thermoplastic resin includes 1-20 wt % of an aryl phosphate, includes 1-20 wt % of a phosphate polymer, and 60%-98% of a (meth)acrylic polymer, including units from at least one monomer, wherein the monomer is chosen from methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, acrylonitrile and maleic anhydride. The first composition may further include a fabric or a composite material that is embedded with the fire-resistant thermoplastic resin. In some instances, the aryl-phosphate and the phosphonate polymer synergistically reduce an effective heat of combustion, a peak heat release, or a flame time as compared to a second composition that contains only one of the aryl phosphate or the phosphonate polymer.

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

A thermoplastic prepreg includes a mat, web, or fabric of fibers and hollow glass microspheres that are positioned atop the mat, web, or fabric of fibers or dispersed therein. The thermoplastic prepreg also includes a thermoplastic polymer that is fully impregnated through the mat, web, or fabric of fibers and the hollow glass microspheres so that the thermoplastic prepreg has a void content of less than 3% by volume of the thermoplastic prepreg. The thermoplastic material is polymerized monomers and oligomers in which greater than 90% by weight of the monomers or oligomers react to form the thermoplastic material.

Panels include a decorative paper layer impregnated with a resin, and a substrate. The decorative paper layer is incorporated in the panel by means of polyurethane.

A composite material comprising 10-98 wt. % of a bio-based particulate or fibrous filler and at least 2 wt. % of a polyester derived from an aliphatic polyalcohol with 2-15 carbon atoms and a polyacid, wherein the polyacid comprises at least 10 wt. % of tricarboxylic acid. Preferably, the filler is in the form of particles, fibers, and/or random or non-random layers. A plant-based filler may be used, in particular a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, more in particular one or more materials selected from wood chips, wood flakes, sawdust, pulp, e.g., pulp of (recycled) paper or other fiber pulp, and plant-derived fibers such as cotton, linen, flax, and hemp. An animal-derived filler, in particular an animal-derived fiber such as wool, hair, silk, or feathers may also be used. Preferably the polyalcohol is selected from one or more of glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, 1,2-propane diol, 1,3-propane diol, and 1,2-ethane diol, in particular glycerol. The polyacid preferably is an aliphatic diacid or triacid with 3-15 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable acids include citric acid, succinic acid, and itaconic acid. The composite material according to the invention has fire-retardant properties, which makes it particularly suitable for applications where fire-retardancy is an issue.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing an activated lignin composition. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for further processing the thus activated lignin composition in a method for preparing a lignin-phenol formaldehyde resin. Such a lignin-phenol formaldehyde resin can be used in the manufacturing of laminates by replacing the traditional synthetic phenol formaldehyde resin.

A method for impregnating strands or strips of natural fibers, using the following successive steps: i) the impregnation of the strands or strips by immersion in a bath containing a fine aqueous polymer dispersion; followed by ii) the drying of the strands or strips using a heating system, with the progressive elimination of the water and the gradual melting of the polymer, and the coating of the strands or strips and the molten polymer incorporated into the core of the strands or strips as a binder between the fibers; iii) optionally, the forming of the treated strands or strips into their final shape; and iv) the cooling of the treated strands or strips. The aqueous polymer dispersion comprises at least one semi-crystalline or amorphous polymer and, in the case of an amorphous polymer, has a Tg varying between 50 C. and 175 C.

Provided is a fiber-reinforced composite material having a greater maximum stress, maximum elongation, and tensile modulus, which are determined by a tensile test, than conventional fiber-reinforced composite materials containing a fluororesin as a matrix. The invention relates to a fiber-reinforced composite material including a fluororesin and a reinforcing fiber, the fluororesin containing a tetrafluoroethylene unit and a vinylidene fluoride unit, the tetrafluoroethylene unit representing 55 to 95 mol % of all the monomer units constituting the fluororesin, the vinylidene fluoride unit representing 45 to 5 mol % of all the monomer units constituting the fluororesin.

A resin composite film comprising a cellulose microfiber sheet and a resin, the resin composite film satisfying the following: (1) in a modulus mapping obtained by an examination of a cross-section with an AFM along the thickness direction, the fibers constituting the cellulose microfiber sheet have an average fiber diameter and a maximum fiber diameter, both calculated through image analysis, of 0.01-2.0 m and 15 m or smaller, respectively; and (2) at least one surface of the resin composite film has an overcoat resin layer having an average thickness, determined from the modulus mapping, of 0.3-100 m.